Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Mad Snorkacks and Englishmen	By : SalonKitty Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Harry/Luna Views: 186180 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 32
- 33
- 34
A/N: Some implied SLASH, if you need a warning for that sort of stuff

Chapter 33: The Private Psychedelic Reel

Draco awoke to the sound of bellicose shouting throughout the manor. He opened one eye groggily as he attempted to identify the source of Voldemort�s upset from the snatches of outrage coming from the other end of the house. The madman was screaming for his father and Lestrange to adjourn to the dining hall straight away. When he heard glass shattering a moment later, both eyes shot open and he bolted upright in his bed. Something had crawled up the Snakey One�s arse, for sure, and the fallout would no doubt make for a very tense, very unpleasant day. Everyone would be tip-toeing around on tenterhooks straining to avoid the devil�s wrath. He was surprised Voldemort was back so soon after his departure the day before and wished the trip had been longer. Much longer. Like, forever. Draco had no idea where the despot was going on these frequent sojourns, but if it kept him out of Draco�s house, he was all for it.

He threw himself back against the pillows and tried setting the ceiling on fire with his glare as heavy footfalls ran by his door. It was not working but he continued to stare for several minutes before he gave a disgusted sigh and tipped his face sideways to take in the rest of his room, the somber light sneaking in through cracks between the heavy velvet drapes making Mordecai rustle on his perch as he began preening his feathers. After last night�s ordeal, Draco didn�t want to deal with any further aggravation today. Bella�s taxing questions over the course of several hours had been enough to wind his nerves up again. Combined with his mother�s hovering and petting him like he was a child, his father staring at him as though he held a great secret over the boy, and various Death Eaters traipsing around their home as if it were a hotel, he had been ready to have a fit. They were all in his face all of the time and he was sick of it. He�d much rather be alone to interrogate his prisoner.

Draco wanted to bring Luna back up to his room so they could spend the day in here, but doubted he could sneak her in if his dad was planning on keeping a steady surveillance. It would be so much easier to try and glean what the girl knew without Ollivander staring at them and interrupting every five minutes; he couldn�t understand why his father was being difficult about the way he was handling things. It wasn�t just a request, but a command from the Dark Lord to gain her confidence. How was he supposed to fulfill it through short visits in the bleeding cellar? Luna would undoubtedly be more guarded if her environment did everything to remind her she was being held captive. He had less than a week to extract some information from her if he was going to be allowed to head back to Hogwarts with the rest of the students after hols. He didn�t have time for games.

Granted, he had gotten her to speak a bit about what was going on, but it wasn�t enough to please the Master; there would have to be something of note to pass on before he would be close to getting off the hook for his last failure. At first, Draco hadn�t been convinced that Luna would be of any value; that she would know nothing about anything on the matter of Granger�s and Potter�s whereabouts or spies in the Ministry, but her attitude had surprised him. She had acted tougher, more confrontational, almost to the point of gloating, and he was intrigued by the way she carried on about Potter. Seeing her face grow hot, her pupils dilate at the mention of his name, the way her hands kept flitting about her neck, and even the way she murmured �Harry� had all implied to him that the airy girl was feeling more than respectful admiration for the speccy git. When he�d suggested that she was having it off with Potter, seeing her rattled composure had sealed it for him. Luna never got rattled, even with a gang of boys demanding she blow them. There was definitely something going on between her and Scarhead. The more he had thought about it, after finally getting to bed, the more the idea had fascinated him.

He had wondered before if the prat had done it with the Weaselette yet, but when he thought about those two together it made him kind of nauseous and rather angry. Contemplating the Golden Boy getting off with the Loony bird, though�that had been much safer to picture. He tried to imagine how that union had come about. True, Luna was the oddest thing around, but she did have a few attributes. He had seen her tits before, and it was obvious even in her strangest outfits that she had a mint figure. Surely, Harry had noticed that. Potter liked girls with long hair, too, although Lovegood�s ratnest was hardly attractive. Certainly a step down for Mr. Popular, who always seemed to have several pairs of eyes glommed to his arse everywhere he went. It was absurd the reactions the idiot got from the girls in school, and even that Creevey poof. Draco closed his eyes and visualized Potter pounding into the girl, her legs spread wide as she held herself open for him, Potter�s smooth, tight bum like a piston, his biceps rippling as his arms held up his body over hers. Would Scarhead wear his glasses the whole time? He mentally removed them from the boy�s face, Harry�s green eyes becoming more insistently glittery in Draco�s mind. He could see the boy dip his head and run his tongue along Luna�s lips as the girl moaned fitfully into his mouth.

Being on the receiving end of Lovegood�s bug-eyed stare could be unnerving, though, especially when she was staring at the face above her with her mouth full of cock. What did Potter do when she was coating his knob with her spit? Was he a big-time moaner? Or did he remain stoic throughout the entire act with nary a peep? Draco could see it being either way. Potter was a freak anyway, whatever he did with the girl was sure to be weird. He probably shagged her up the bum or something equally as grotty. Draco snorted aloud to himself at the thought. Before yesterday, he�d expected that Saint Potter was as uptight as his image, that he�d never do anything so blatantly carnal with a girl outside of wedlock. Even after he�d seen Ginny and Harry getting off near the edge of the Black Lake one afternoon, having accidentally come upon them when he was out for a run, he�d held on to the idea. He�d stepped back into the trees as soon as he�d spotted them, taking care not to be discovered, and watched them for several minutes before his insides started to feel funny. The couple was certainly intent upon showing their affections to each other, but it hadn�t been anything salacious; they were perfectly entwined and locked at the lips, no bumping or grinding to be on display. He had pegged them both as chaste losers living in a silly fantasy of love and respectability. No one worth their salt respected virtue, especially if one made a conscious decision to refrain from taking power. Sex was definitely about power, he had learned that early on. He had only to watch his mother to gain that understanding. One had to know things in this world if they were to get anywhere. Never walk away from experience; his father had taught him that.

Draco�s imagination turned back to the girl currently down in his cellar being shagged good and proper by the Boy Hero. He had often wondered about Luna�s passion as they had carried on their trysts during the school year. She was always so controlled around the lads once they�d cornered her into some secluded area of the Hogwarts grounds. Managing to remain calm in the face of their taunting, she�d deftly take them all on and walk away with her dignity intact. He had been duly impressed by her handling of the situation and resolved to get her alone more often, to see how she would act with a bit of wooing. It had only come to pass a handful of times, and he�d flirted with the idea then of pressing her for a tumble if only to relieve some of the strain he was under every day, but towards the end of the school year he was too out of sorts to even expend the energy required. It was more of a comfort just to have her close; she seemed to understand things intrinsically about him that he didn�t even have to express. When he took the time to kiss and caress her, she would sigh into his mouth in the most delicious way, like she was giving him something tangibly precious, and he would feel a knot loosen in his chest. He didn�t know how she was capable of that when her head was so in the clouds most of the time, but he didn�t bother to analyze the girl, simply enjoyed what he could take from her.

He frowned at the implication of such a statement as his arm draped over his head to slide under his pillow. Draco had been raised to believe that as a Malfoy everything was his for the taking, but he had to have the confidence and the bollocks to stake his claim and to not feel bad about it, his father had told him. Guilt was a weakness and one never showed weakness, at all cost. When he was ten years old, he had cried at his birthday party because he didn�t get the right model of broom he�d requested. He had explained to his mother very carefully that he wanted the new Twigger 90 at least a dozen times, so when he�d opened the wrapping to find a Nimbus 1500 laying there he�d thrown it across the floor and then banged his fists on the table, his face scrunching up in his anger as tears squeezed out to stream down the side of his face. Ignoring everyone in attendance, young Draco had made to storm out of the room and lock himself up in his bedroom for the remainder of the day, or until someone went out and got him what he had asked for, but his father had grabbed him by the shoulders and spun him around, backhanding him across the face so hard that Draco had dropped to the floor. The entire party had been stunned into silence and Draco could only glare up at his father in shock. In icy tones, he was told to sit back in his seat and apologize to his guests for such appalling behaviour. Draco dutifully did as he was commanded. Later that night, Lucius had come to see him in his room. He�d given him a tight hug as he explained that Draco had needed to be taught a very important lesson, it had been for his own good. His father had stroked his cheek where he�d been hit, the sting still under the reddened skin making the boy flinch, and looked straight into his eyes. �Malfoys are always in control of their feelings, Draco; remember that.� Draco had never cried or made a fuss in front of his father again.

The teen closed his eyes and expelled a great, irritated breath. He didn�t want to think about bitter childhood memories this morning, but about sex, specifically sex between Potty and Loony. He shook his head from side to side in his bemusement as another vision of the two popped into his head, both naked and sweaty and joined at the bits most enthusiastically, this time Potter sitting upright as he bounced the girl on his prick, legs open, his bollocks being squished in the downswing of her body, Luna�s lower back and glorious arse an undulating map of alabaster planes and valleys. Draco frowned. This was getting tricky. Now that the idea had come into being, he couldn�t stem his fascination for the pair and the myriad ways that they might have been having it off while he had been trapped in this hell. How long had they been doing it, anyway, and did Ginny know about it? He couldn�t see that being possible, though; couldn�t see Scarhead confessing to the redhead that he�d been balling Ravenclaw�s resident space oddity. Yet, Potter was too honourable to have been cheating on his best mate�s sister. What had been happening over there? Those Gryffindor brats might as well have been on the other side of the world for all the good it did Draco trying to piece together their motivations and consequent actions. There had to be lots that Luna wasn�t telling him.

The intrusion of Ginevra Weasley into his daydream made him fill out the girl in his mind again, focusing on her determined face as she flew over the Quidditch pitch, all sinewy muscle and streaming fire, and he tried to picture her reaction to seeing Potter fucking Luna in their old spot by the lake. He could see the girl�s face crumple in anguish, the hurt shining through her like a beam of light, splitting her torso in two. How she would turn and run, her legs burning as she flew through the forest, her cries being swallowed up by the dense curtain of leaves and shadow. If he had known, would he have been there to catch her? Would she have let him console her, let him wipe away those tears sliding down over those burnished freckles, so many freckles like stars filling the night sky, let him tongue her skin dry as his hands folded around the back of her head and turned her face up to his? Draco shook his head again to clear the image from his brain. It never happened, he chided himself, you�re worse than a girl. Still, he resumed his memory of the two of them, Potter and the Weaselette, embracing as they snogged the afternoon away. The scene slowly unfolded into Draco�s own perverted projections, as the couple lay back and undressed each other. He did his best to put himself in Potter�s place, seeing his likeness tear away the girl�s clothes in his eagerness to get to her flesh. By the time the fantasy had gotten into full swing, with him thrusting away inside of the redhead as she wrapped her legs around his back and moaned like a she-devil, Draco had fallen into a trance, his chest rising slowly as his breaths deepened, his hand winding down to his pelvis and into his pajamas like a snake on the hunt. His knob filled with blood as he thrust away in his dream scenario, Draco imagined he could hear the veins expand, and once his hand reached his destination, the stiffness was already awaiting him. A tight, pulsing heat greeted his grip as he slipped into the rhythm of his wank. After a few slides, though, he reached out with his other hand to retrieve his wand by his bedside and urgently cast a lubricating charm into his palm.

Only the sound of his breathing filled the room as he tugged and pulled in his erotic haze. Mordecai had grown silent again and he momentarily wondered if the bird was watching him masturbate. His left hand moved up to take hold of a nipple and squeeze, moving his open nightshirt to one side, and in his vision someone else was doing it to him, while another touch brushed over his backside. But he couldn�t tell if it was Ginny or not, for there felt like too many hands on his body, too many breaths across his skin. A presence pressed up against his back as he watched the girl underneath him, and it felt good, it felt safe, like he was surrounded by protection. Lips ghosted over the nape of his neck and the boy in the bed shuddered forcibly, a groan escaping the mouth he had closed tightly, and he felt a thrust against his bum pushing him deeper into the Weasley girl. His dream Ginny moaned in answer, the sound of her filling his head like a burst of song from the morning birds out of his window. The rhythm on his prick sped up as he pushed his pants lower one-handed, his legs falling open as his palm scooped up his bollocks on the return, the shrinking sacs telling him he was close. The bodies behind his eyelids were getting frantic now, the girl writhing under him as she begged him to fuck her harder, a firm grip on his hips pulling him backwards to meet a hardened insistence between his arse cheeks. He moaned again and let his fingers slide past his bollocks to move lower, exploring the opening below. The tip of one finger circled the wrinkled skin there and pressed lightly, his body wanting to open up with the pressure, the feeling mirrored in his dream self. The three of them were all moving in synchronized gyrations and Draco wanted to feel that cock inside him while he fucked the girl, oblivious to who it belonged to and having no desire to know. His hand was flying over his own prick now, the pace making it appear blurred, and the finger at his hole went just a bit further inside as he lifted up his bottom. He was so close it hurt, he needed to come badly, and this pressing note made his dream self thrust harder, stopping long enough for the slip of a shaft into the crevice of his bum, the spongy tip secreting its wetness against his bud and shyly demanding entrance.

Draco brought the finger down below up to his mouth and sucked on it hard, ignoring the scent that lingered there, and when it was coated with enough of his saliva, he sent it back to its hole and pushed hard. He let his finger go as deep as the position would allow, he didn�t care if it hurt, and the cock in his dream pierced him while he fucked the girl below, the three of them pinned together, his body wrapped like a cocoon inside of their strength. He felt teeth on the space between his shoulder and neck, and when they bit down, Ginny�s eyes flashed wide open in alarm and she groaned deeply with her orgasm. �Haaaarrr-eeee,� she moaned wantonly. He heard another moan behind him, manly and deep, right into his flesh, and he froze in horror. His real body wanted to freeze up, too, but his climax was upon him, he felt the stream blast through his cock as he squeezed tight, the ropes of sperm hitting his chest with a warm splat while his face grimaced in pain. He held on as his knob continued to pump out the remainder of his seed, his breaths feeling torn from his throat, and he could see them all now, see the side view of his threesome as though from another�s point-of-view. Harry and Ginny were stroking and kissing each other as they bent around him, seemingly ignoring Draco�s presence in the middle now that they were done with him. Typical. Draco squeezed his eyes tight to block out the entire disgusting vision. It was not customary for Draco to fantasize about boys and so it galled him to no end that he could summon up these images so seamlessly. Before he succeeded in scrubbing his brain clean, however, he heard a loud crack in the room causing him to bolt violently upward.

He attempted to cover up his sticky nudity with the sheets as he sat up hurriedly. �Bondy!! I told you not before 9 o�clock!� he exclaimed indignantly. His house-elf quailed from his outburst, her ears flattened back behind her head while her eyes went saucer-like.

�Bondy is s-s-sorry, Master Draco, but Mistress Malfoy wants to see you. I is needing to get you up now, she said.� The elf folded her hands tightly in front of her in obeisance, tears welling up at her Master�s displeasure. Draco�s cheeks burned with embarrassment, but it was only Bondy, and it was not as if she hadn�t seen him wank before or clean up his messy leavings. The house-elf had been with him since he was born.

�Well, get my clothes ready while I take a shower. Tell Mum I�ll be down in twenty.� He ripped the sheets back from his legs and stepped to the floor, pulling up his pajama bottoms as he stood while globs of cum dribbled down his skin. He strode regally to his washroom, disregarding the crackle as Bondy Disapparated back downstairs. His head felt cleared of its earlier distractions and when Draco looked into the bathroom mirror, his face was already set into its mask for the day, blank but in control.

When he had made his way to the dining hall, taking the long route down the front entrance staircase, his mother was waiting for him at the end of the table. She had a paper in one hand and her teacup in the other, but her stillness gave her the appearance of a statue. He couldn�t even see her breathing at first glance. Draco imagined she could stay like that for hours, her brain in tumult and turmoil yet giving away nothing; not a line in her face, nor a tremor in her hand. As her head turned to take in his presence, he started a bit, almost expecting she had gone to stone. Her eyes cast over his apparel approvingly and then glanced into the next room where the giant Christmas tree still sat, the twinkling lights dulled in the brightness of the day.

�Remind me to have all the decorations removed today,� she said stiffly to him. It hadn�t been much of a celebration in the manor this year. The Dark Lord had scoffed at the Muggle tradition and its religious overtones, banning any festivities although he had allowed the trimmings to remain. There had been no presents, no big dinner, no merriment whatsoever, and barely any acknowledgement of the holiday on Christmas Day. Everything was in service to his Lord. They were in a war and the only celebration that would be taking place was when the rebellion fell and Potter�s head was on a pike.

She stayed quiet while he filled his plate with food. He plunked a sugar cube in his tea and stirred, the tink-tink of the spoon hitting the sides the only sound to be heard in the great hall. Draco settled into eating what he could manage to stomach, thinking ahead that he would save the rest on the serving plates to bring down to Luna, meaning to ask Bondy to make a fresh teapot for him to take as well. When his mother suddenly spoke, dispelling the silence, his head shot up at the intrusion, his expression annoyed.

�You�ll be getting your things ready today to go back to Hogwarts in a few days. I�m taking you into Diagon Alley for some new robes and your supplies,� she told him off-handedly.

�He�s seeing fit to let me go back?� Draco didn�t need to explain which �he� he was talking about. �What about my�my task? I�m supposed to prove myself, he said. How can I get any information if you�re taking me shopping?� He spoke sharply, his voice taking on an accusatory tone, and his mother snapped her face towards him in warning. �Sorry,� he acquiesced, �I was lead to believe this was important.�

�Well, you were wrong. Our Lord has other pressing matters at hand and needs your father to do a bit of work for him abroad. It has been decided that you need to be out of the house and back where you might have some proper instruction. None of this lounging about your room all day brooding,� she lectured.

�But�but why am I leaving so early? Classes don�t start till Monday, and no one is even going to be there until the day before. I�ll be there four days ahead of schedule. What am I supposed to do while I wait around in an empty school?� His mind was reeling at the change of events. What had gone wrong? He had been looking forward to talking to the girl today and now it was all shit again. He hadn�t geared himself up to face his friends yet.

�You�ll be watched over by Sev�the Headmaster. He�s got plenty for you to do to get you up to speed on your studies. You�re going to need some tutoring and some�some counsel, I expect. It was very good of Professor Snape to offer to get you ready.� She folded her paper and set it down beside her plate then regarded him meaningfully. �Someone else can interrogate the prisoner,� she suggested quietly. �Someone less biased.�

Draco only stared back at her unblinking. He wasn�t about to ask her what she meant by that. His gaze shifted to the tabletop.

�Well, before we go, I�m just going to take them breakfast. I told her I would.� He waited a beat and then added softy, �If that�s alright.�

�That won�t be necessary, Draco. It�s been taken care of. Run along and get ready, now. I�ll meet you in the foyer in thirty minutes sharp.� Narcissa summarily dismissed any objections he might have had with a wave of her hand as she went back to her paper. Draco sat in stunned silence for a moment before rising to his feet to head back upstairs, dropping his serviette onto his leftover food with an exaggerated gesture.

Instead of going directly up to his room, he stopped to make his way down the hallway that featured the stairway to the cellar. He stood at the top of the stairs for several minutes debating whether he should go and tell Luna what was happening, that he�d be leaving sooner than expected. Then he sneered at his dilemma and rolled his eyes heavenward, wondering where this sudden concern for the girl was coming from. It was probably better for her that he was leaving, he noted ironically. His inadvertent discovery of her dalliance with the Chosen One would prove to be dangerous once Voldemort found out this bit of news. All he needed was to rake through Draco�s mind and the suspicion alone would be enough reason for him to torture the girl into admission. Her fate would be sealed by then. He recalled how the Dark Lord had laughed at him when he�d seen Draco�s Weaselette fantasies locked away in his brain during a particularly nasty session. The comment had been made that she would be dealt with at a later time and Draco had grown cold at the thought. He realized suddenly that he�d been given an out, here, and should count himself lucky. Being at school again would be a relief. His mother would take control of the manor and keep things running more smoothly without him here.

He looked back down at the cellar door and silently wished Luna good luck before running down the carpeted hall to make his way up to his room again. Draco was ready to leave this spider�s nest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~0

Harry was sitting out in the evening dusk watching the clouds roll by as more stars filled the sky. They were still in a cold snap, but the snow had melted around the fields the trio was currently residing in, and he only wore his hoodie over his clothes for warmth. He could see twinkling lights in the distance where a nearby village lie spread out before him. It looked so peaceful to him from this vantage point, but he wondered at the extent of its rotting core, the wretched seediness in the townspeople�s lives. How many of them were fucking around on their spouses? Or bilking their employers out of money? How many parents down there saw fit to beat their children regularly for any minor discretion? Did they use a belt? A hefty paddle? Or was it with a crowbar? Perhaps expressing their displeasure at their progeny�s mistakes by some well placed cigarette burns along the arm. People would greet each other with smiles in the morning on their way to work, but what dark deeds did they carry out at night? Nothing was ever as innocent as it seemed, he knew that as sure as he knew that evil permeated everything good given time. They were all hypocrites, all those Muggles he was supposed to be feeling compassion for, all those souls needing to be protected from darkness. Well, he didn�t think he could do it. Obviously, he was not the man for the job. Dumbledore had put all his eggs into the wrong basket case.

He glanced back behind him to listen for any movement in the tent. Hermione and Ron had been playing some chess when he went outside to start watch and it had been a while since he�d heard their soft murmurs slip through the canvas to hover around him comfortingly like fireflies in summer. Harry couldn�t see any light on and deduced that they�d gone to bed. He twisted back to face in front of him again and pulled back his left sleeve, staring down at the white flesh on the inside of his arm. Flexing his fist several times, he watched the veins pop up and snake across his wrist. Grabbing the Snatcher�s stolen wand that he�d been forced to use in the absence of his own, he stroked it from the edge of his palm up to the crease inside his elbow, muttering in Latin at the same time. The white skin that gleamed up at him like the belly of a dead fish went fuzzy at first, but then changed into a darker appearance. The blackness that ran along the grooves of muscle looked charred with a sickly pink and yellowish hue rimming the mark. Harry picked off a bit of skin that had been peeling under the glamour but then hefted the wand back in his other hand and spun the tip with a snap of his wrist. Flagrate, he cast quietly, and a burning spark emitted from the wand�s end. He dragged it out in a straight line in front of his face and then swished it back, repeating the process several times in order to watch the fiery line move back and forth until he felt slightly mesmerized by it. The tang of sulfur filled his nose and he closed his eyes as he drunk in the sight and scent of it, preparing himself for how it would feel on his skin, the burning lines still emblazoned to the inside of his eyelids. When he opened his eyes again, he held his arm out in front of him like a band, his hand back into its fist. Bringing the line of fire below his extended limb, he dragged it across again, only this time letting the flames lick the blackened flesh. He flinched at first with a hiss, like he always did, but then he settled into the pain and sighed welcomingly, moving the line further down until it was scarring virgin flesh. Harry watched fascinated as his skin bubbled like the skim from a cauldron.

It was easy for him to get lost in this practice, so he had to be careful that he didn�t take it too far. He didn�t need a lecture from Hermione if she ever caught sight of his burns. It didn�t matter what she would say, anyway, he thought with another sigh. It didn�t matter if his whole arm was set fire to. What could he endure that would even come close to the horror that Luna was being put through right now? He gritted his teeth and tried not to think about her as the flames petered out from the wand�s point. Ron liked to suggest that perhaps Luna had been taken elsewhere, but Harry just couldn�t see it, no matter how much he wanted it to be true. Had they discovered her connection to him yet? Would she be brought before Voldemort? Just the very notion of such a meeting made Harry want to vomit and he tried to swallow back the bile now as he pictured her taking a Cruciatus from that sick fuck. He threw down the Blackthorn wand and put his face in his hands, ignoring the scream of nerves in his arm.

Harry knew that Ron and Hermione were doing their best to keep up his spirits and take care of him; he�d pretty much stopped caring about how he looked or whether he ate or not. It had been a month, though, since they�d visited Luna�s father, and he couldn�t seem to get past his grief. Knowing that he couldn�t do anything about it had stirred up a lot of feelings of resentment towards his friends, beholden to them as he was by the Vow. He�d acted the complete and utter bastard every chance he could those first few weeks, his derision dripping from every word he spoke to Hermione like fetid sap secreting from a dying tree. Ron had finally yelled at him to stop being so foul or he�d kick his arse. Harry kind of wished he would do it anyway. Getting his arse kicked royally would be preferable to being buried in his head, his self-loathing thick as tar.

He stayed in the same position for what felt like hours, almost falling asleep in the pose. Eventually, his bum felt leaden with pins and needles and so he stood up to walk around, wanting to do something, anything, to expend some energy. He jumped up and down a few times to bring his heart rate up and debated whether he should go for a midnight run. Harry looked back at the tent again and reminded himself he was supposed to be guarding their hideout. As he stared, he saw the flaps rustle and startled a bit when a head came through it a second later. Ron looked to the right and then the left before he saw Harry several meters away. He nodded in acknowledgment before walking out of the tent and heading over to him, a dark object clasped in his hand swinging to and fro. Harry quickly brushed his shirt sleeve all the way down and clutched the hem in his palm.

�Hey,� Ron whispered when he got close enough. He held up the bottle in his hand and shook it. �Fancy a drink?�

An hour later, the boys were sitting around a small fire and talking in hushed tones, interspersed with giggles. Harry felt woozy, but he liked it, letting his body weave on his seat as Ron went to punch him playfully in the arm again.

�You git, I should have known it was you that did that. I thought for sure it was Seamus and I didn�t speak to the wanker for a week! You�re a fucking sneak, Harry,� but he grinned with the insult.

�They�re just little spiders, you pussy,� Harry laughed, �they weren�t even real.� He went to punch Ron back in retaliation but missed the boy�s arm completely, his swing cutting through air until it pulled his body sideways. He fell off of his stool with a thump and both boys cracked up then fervently hushed each other before they woke Hermione.

�Ssshhe�ll be annoyed if she comes out and sheesus like this,� Ron warned, but trying keep from laughing all the while. He suddenly straightened up and put his hands on his hips, striking a very Hermione-like stance, his lips pursed in a perfect imitation. �Really, Ron, how charming. You boys are sooooooo immature, getting pissed when you�re supposed to be bloody guarding my pert and shapely arse that is just begging to be fondled. I don�t know how I manage to put up with you lot. You�re like teassshpoons, and�and other cutlery.� He tossed his head around as though he were waving about long, girlish hair.

Harry had to hold his hand tight to his mouth now to keep his giggles from escaping. He was always amazed at Ron�s gift of mimicry, but he had Hermione spot on. His belly hurt from laughing as he rocked, but he wanted to keep feeling like this as long as he could. When he could make a straight face and quiet down, he sat up on the ground and held a glass out to Ron.

�I don�t think teaspoons are considered cutlery, mmmate. Isn�t that exclusively knives and sharp things?� he asked as Ron poured the amber liquid from the almost empty bottle.

�Nah, nah, mate, it�s whatever you set at the table, in�nit? That�s what Mum calls it, anyway.� When he�d filled Harry�s glass, he went to top off his own. �Bottoms up, Guv�ner.� He tipped his head back and swigged down his liquor in one shot, and when he sat back up and raised his glass as if in a toast, a loud expulsion of flatulence could be heard coming from under his seat. Both of them couldn�t contain their hilarity this time and rolled over each other in fits of more inane giggling. Ron took the blanket that Harry had brought out earlier and pretended to smother himself with it to keep the volume down. Then they heard an exasperated shout from inside the tent and shuffling footsteps heading in their direction. The two boys bolted upright and tossed their glasses behind them, Ron grabbing the bottle and hiding it under the blanket just as Hermione stepped out.

�What the bloody hell is going on out here?� she demanded crossly, wiping sleep from her eyes.

�Nothing!� �Uh, nothing,� they answered immediately.

Hermione just gaped at them with her mouth open, eyes squinted. �Well, if it�s nothing, do you think you can keep your nothing down a bit? I�m trying to get some rest before it�s my turn, guys. Have some consideration.�

�We are so sorry, Hermione, really, I can�t express just how unbelievably remorseful I am to have awakened you.� Ron clutched at his chest dramatically and held out a hand to her. �Rest well, fair maiden; we knights of the brave and the just will protect you. Fear not.�

Harry�s eyes were wide as he stared from one to the other, his lips tucked inside his mouth in a tight line as he tried not to explode into laughter again. Hermione put her hands on her hips much like Ron had just done moments before. �Really, Ron, grow up,� she chided with a shake of her head before turning to go back into the tent. She spun back to them before stepping inside. �And put that fire out!� she pointed accusingly. Once she had disappeared, they waited a few beats, grabbing each other�s shirts in clumps, before breaking into fits again, the snorts escaping their mouths as they rocked into each other.

�Shut it, shut it!� Ron whispered to him gaily, and soon the boys had control of themselves. Harry went to right his stool so he could sit down and when his hand raked through his hair to get it out of his eyes, he noticed Ron�s stare following it. �What�chyu do to yer arm?� he enquired lazily.

�Huh?� Harry pulled his sleeve down farther and grabbed the edge again, leaning forward to spell away the flames of their campfire. �Ah, nothing, it�s just a nasty bruise from a spill I took the other day. Bloody ravine snuck up on me when I was out taking a piss in the dark.�

�Well, be careful next time. Can�t have the Savior of the Wizarding World getting his neck snapped �cos of his willie, now, can we? That wouldn�t look very good in the headlines. At least go out fightin�, mate.� Ron seemed to buy the explanation, though, as he retrieved the bottle from its hiding place.

�Don�t call me that,� Harry snapped, suddenly feeling serious. Ron jerked his head up, his eyes big as he stared a few seconds at his friend. �Sorry,� he muttered then held the bottle out between them and shook it again. �Not much left here.�

�I spelled it to refill, remember?� Harry reminded him before pulling out the Blackthorn. He tapped both sides of the bottle with it and they watched the liquid fill back up to the middle.

�Brilliant,� Ron breathed out, a loopy grin on his face. Harry wanted nothing more than to drink up the Firewhiskey until he passed out, but then the image of Hermione wagging her finger at him appeared in his head.

�We should probably save that for another time, Ron,� he advised as he stretched his arms behind him and pulled at his wrist, careful not to fall backwards in his inebriated state. He gave a deep belch into the night. �Don�t want to get so kettled we fall asleep and get bludgeoned to death by Snatchers, do we? Hermione might get irritated with us just a smidgen if that happened.�

Instead of being amused by the joke, though, Ron scowled. �Bleedin� Snatchers. What a bunch of gormless grunts. Not a whit of intelligence between the whole gang. You-Know-Who must really be scraping the bottom of the barrel for reinforcements.�

�Hasn�t that always been his M.O.?� quipped Harry as he zipped up his hoodie, then stuffing his hands into the pockets while he brought his arms close to his body. �Blimey, it�s still bloody parky out. When�s spring going to get here?�

�It�s not so bad,� Ron sighed dreamily. �Know what warms your cobblers, though?� When Harry looked to him Ron was holding up the bottle again. �Just one more, Harry, and then we�ll call it a night.�

Harry smiled wanly. �Yeah, sure,� he agreed while rummaging for his discarded glass. It was good to have Ron around again.

�And by the way, what the ruddy hell is an M-O? Is that anything like S and M? �Cause it wouldn�t surprise me in the least if ol� Tom was into the kinky stuff.�

Harry laughed aloud in spite of their promise to Hermione.

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A/N: Readers, at this part in the story, I�d like to go interactive. I�ve put these in order as to the set list the trio might be hearing over the course of their show. They are all youtube clips, but a few are simply audio only. I included the live shows to give a sense of what the trio is experiencing by now, although I hope my words can transport you there. Still, I thought it would make a nice aural texture to the piece and give an idea of what kind of feelings being in a crowd like that can summon. While not all of the concerts depicted here are in the correct year, the songs they are playing are, for the most part, all anachronistic with the time frame of DH. I wanted the trio to run into the Glastonbury Festival, but it�s in summer, so no go. You don�t have to watch the clips, but keep them playing in another tab while reading, if you so desire. Of course, feel free to ignore this, too, if it�s not your bag.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTUTeE3yvRk (Sasha & Digweed)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ldzDwtl6ak (Banco de Gaia)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brqj_UL8Xsc (Leftfield live in Montreaux)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAMUh46wrz0 (Leftfield live)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-6HUuUEvQc (my favorite Prodigy track)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_nVCK_lIAk (Chemical Brothers at Glasto �97)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2NbswHGZ64 (Chemical Bros/ NSFW--boobies)

and this one is mandatory. If you only play one of these links, make it this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_eH-eJOnA0 (see title)

I also recommend Leftfield's 'Song of Life', particularly the version off RHYTHM AND STEALTH or the one from the TombRaider soundtrack. ;-)

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�I think we should stop and take a break soon,� Harry grumbled behind his friends, trying to keep up as they trekked through more countryside. He had no idea where they were, but it was all starting to look the same to him. His head was pounding, and while seeing the sun out in all its blazing glory was welcomed, the heat it brought was only adding to his sorry state.

Ron turned to face him while clutching the straps of his backpack to his shoulders. �We�re almost over this hill, Harry, and then we�ll be looking to make camp somewhere in the valley. Hermione says there�s a town about twenty minutes from here, but we should be able to find a good spot out of sight. C�mon, let�s pull up the ol� bootstraps.�

Harry glared up at his mate, his pupils practically emitting laser beams through his glasses. Ron had just as much to drink last night as he had and the sod was just fine this morning; never better, thank you. Meanwhile, Harry was feeling the effects of a particularly nasty hangover. It had been his turn to go into town last night for supplies while the other two stayed back at the tent. He had wanted to give them some alone time, anyway, but when he�d come across a liquor store as he traversed the streets under his cloak, he was glad to be on a solitary outing. Harry had slipped inside and snagged a couple of bottles off the shelves, leaving a fiver near the till. He�d had no idea what it was he was taking with him, but when he showed Ron during their sentry duty, the liquid inside one looked like water. �Absolut? Absolute what? Does that mean you get absolutely pissed?� Ron had asked.

�Well, there�s only one way to find out,� Harry had suggested, unscrewing the cap. The burn on the back of his throat had been a relief. It didn�t take the two of them very long to get through the first bottle, though they�d learned to keep quiet during their nightcaps, neither of them eager to hear a lecture from Hermione. She�d yet to suspect anything, although she�d been giving Harry some rather shrewd glances all morning, continually asking what was wrong with him with little pity in her tone. Harry had grown familiar with a Firewhiskey buzz, but the new spirits had messed with his system. The second bottle that they had downed felt like it had blown a hole through his gut. �Who the devil is Jack?� Ron had wondered when he hefted it up to see the label under moonlight. Harry had decided in his misery upon waking that it might be best to stick with good old Ogdens, even if the stuff became less potent with every refilling. He suddenly tripped over a rock in his path and groaned aloud as he righted himself.

�Oh, for God sakes, stop with the whinging back there. Honestly, Harry, I don�t know what your problem is today, but perhaps if you ate something every now and again you wouldn�t feel so peaky,� Hermione complained, stopping in her tracks as she turned to berate him.

�Oh, Merlin, don�t mention food, for the love of Peeves. The stench from that bacon this morning almost made me puke.�

�It probably would have done you some good, mate,� Ron added with a wry grin. Harry rolled his eyes mightily as he gritted his teeth. Ron was a real prat, sometimes. Of course he would be able to eat breakfast like normal, but then he had emptied the contents of his stomach into the bushes before going to bed in the early hours.

�Ron, why don�t you take a fucking, flying lea�� He stopped in mid-sentence as a heavy thumping seemed to be aloft on the wind. Turning in the direction of the sound, his eyes squint to see if he could make something out on the horizon that peaked from the sides of their hilltop but there were too many trees in his sightline. �What is that? Can you hear that?� he asked his companions.

�Sounds like�drums?� Hermione ventured. The three of them looked at each other and then up at the top of the hill again. �Let�s get up there and see if we can spot anyone. Be careful, though, keep low to the ground,� she cautioned. They renewed their zeal to reach the apex and as they drew closer, Ron dropped down to a crouch, scrabbling almost on all fours as he went to peer over their vantage point.

�Do you see anything, Ron? I can hear it getting louder,� Hermione was almost to the top. Harry had flung himself to the ground, unconcerned with his health by now, and crawled up beside Ron. There were still plenty of trees in the decline, but they were able to spot a large gathering down below. He looked to the left and noticed more streaming lines of people coming through paths in the grassy fields. They were in the lowlands, so much of the snow here had melted already, but the ground was still soggy. It looked like a large platform had been rigged up as some sort of stage, screens on either side flashing in the sunlight�s brilliance. Little tents of various colors festooned the area like buttons on a map.

�Do you think it�s one of those Death Eater parties you hear about? A revel or something, where they all dance naked under the full moon?� Ron whispered to him, but Hermione had plunked herself down between them and scoffed at the idea.

�Where do you hear such nonsense, Ron? This is obviously some sort of Muggle concert. Do you really think Death Eaters would be setting up giant speakers and a light show?�

�Give him a break, �Mione. It�s not like Ron has ever seen that stuff before. Should we go check it out?� he suggested, his curiosity piqued.

�I don�t know if that�s such a good idea. Perhaps we should Apparate to another location. We should be avoiding any large gatherings.� Hermione seemed set to leave, but Harry put a hand on her arm to keep her from backing away.

�But why should we? Don�t you think it�s better to hide in plain sight? What Death Eater is going to be able to get to us smack dab in the middle of a group of Muggles out in bleeding nowhere? They wouldn�t even think of looking there for us. Let�s see what it�s all about, �Mione. Could be fun. I like the music they�re playing,� he noted, looking down to where the beats were still thudding over the throng. �It�s kind of sexy.�

Hermione whipped her head to look at him strangely, a faint smile in her face a second later as she stared at him. Her lip curved up as the music started to change into a piece more melodic, though the thudding never left.

�Well, I suppose we could give it a go. I�d recommend we use the cloak once we get closer to the crowd, though, until we are absolutely sure it�s safe. I have to admit; I�m pretty curious myself.� Harry beamed at her, genuinely excited for the first time in a long while, his headache all but forgotten. He felt drawn to the music and the notion of being swallowed up by hundreds of bodies.

A second later, the three of them began running down the side of the hill, almost in single file, using each tree as cover as they made their way to its base until they had reached flat terrain. They could make out people�s faces now, as the revelers greeted each other and bounced around in a festive mood. There were all sorts of strange outfits on some of the participants, vibrant and shocking, while others looked comfortable in their jeans and hoodies. The energy was thrilling to be near, as there was a palpable sense of joy and unity, the atmosphere one of a tremendous party. Many were already starting to dance around before they had even made their way through the gates that the trio could now see erected in the distance. It appeared that people were waiting in line before being allowed in and Harry wondered if there was a ticket of some sort required.

�We need to get to just inside the fence, over there,� he pointed as Hermione fished out his cloak from her purse. If we can Apparate together under protection, we can probably just slip into the crowd without anyone really noticing anything. There�s too of them many about.�

�Yeah, that�s a good idea, mate,� Ron agreed heartily, his wide-eyed gaze never leaving the spectacle in front of them. People continued to shout and call to each other, their faces happy and expressive. The three of them unfolded the cloak and did their best to fit under as much of the material as they could, while Hermione and Ron held on to Harry�s belt loops as he prepared to Apparate them to their new location.

As soon as they had snapped across space to land on the other side of the gates, Hermione pulled both boys towards a port-a-potty and dragged them in shadow. They removed the cloak quickly and stuffed it back in her purse, fixing their hair and straightening their clothes as they made to engage with the crowd. Looking at every booth as they passed, Hermione balked at the prices being asked for a bottle of water, but Harry shoved her along and sped up their pace as they headed to the stages. He could see some smaller platforms had been set up inside featuring various performers dancing or doing tricks, one lady with a large yellow snake wrapped over her shoulders giving him pause. There was something going on at every spot they looked and the trio was agog at the multitude of entertaining acts and shows of carousing amongst the party-goers, their bacchanalian attitudes as infectious as a Cheering charm.

Harry had been quite enjoying himself as he moved his friends further to the giant stage. Whatever this was, it held its own magic, and something in him felt lightened just the tiniest bit. He looked over to see Ron moving rhythmically to the music currently coming from one set of speakers, his head still turning every which way to catch what the dancers were doing. Harry grinned broadly and when Ron realized he was being watched he blushed a bit before shaking his head, going still. Harry pushed him affectionately. �Don�t stop, you git. Go for it, man,� he teased, but started to move to the music as well. Harry had never danced like this in his life, just letting the rhythm propel him. It wasn�t as bad as having to learn steps for the Yule Ball, and after a few minutes, he just listened to the music and let it take over his center. �Nice arse,� someone commented as they walked behind him, and when he snapped his head backwards he saw two girls wearing very little, even in this weather, give him cheeky smiles. They wore their whitish blonde hair done up in pigtails atop their head, but ramrod straight like antennae, and there was glitter mixed in with bright blue makeup in swirly patterns on their faces. He smiled back, but when he turned to face his friends, Hermione was rolling her eyes at him. He shrugged, but the smile didn�t leave.

�What do you suppose is going to happen up there?� Ron wondered as he pointed to the largest stage, while crew members rolled out giant carts of equipment.

�I imagine that�s where the main acts will be playing. It�s still quite early, they probably won�t start until it gets closer to dark.� Hermione frowned as she contemplated something. �It wouldn�t do to stay that long, though.�

�Nonsense, Hermione. Let�s see it through. When will we ever get an opportunity like this again? We could use a break, don�t you think?� Harry knew he sure could. There was a lot he could be thinking about right now, all of it negative: lots of worrying to do and ineffective mental berating, but he didn�t want to think about ANY of it at the moment. He didn�t want to think about her, didn�t want to think, at all.

�Harry!�

Harry whipped his head behind him instinctively, wondering who else had his name in this section of partiers. He turned back to his friends, getting ready to argue his point with Hermione, when he heard it again. �Harry!� He looked to his right this time and then gawked back at the two of them. �Did you hear that? Am I losing my mind or did someone ca��

�Harry!! Over here!�

�Harry, it�s that bloke running towards you! Oh my God, I knew we shouldn�t have come!� cried Hermione in panic as she turned him in the direction of the caller. Harry stared hard at the spot she was directing him to and watched in disbelief as a large teenager with blond hair came barreling towards him, a scrawny mate running right behind him.

�Dudley! Holy shit!!!� His jaw dropped as he stared in shock at his cousin head straight up to him. Once the boy got next to him he clapped him hard on the back and Harry, still agape, stumbled a bit as he attempted to get his brain to accept what his eyes were seeing.

�What the bloody hell?! What are you doing here?� he demanded insistently. Dudley and his parents were supposed to be in protective custody, he boggled as to how the boy got out of it.

�Are you kidding? This gig is going to be MASSIVE! I wasn�t about to miss it while sitting on my bum in that ruddy hotel. I almost died of sheer boredom there. Sorry, Harry, but your friends don�t know shite about having a good time.�

�Entertaining you is not the point, you git!� Harry exclaimed. He slapped his hand to his forehead in his incredulity when a hand touched his waist.

�Harry, who is this?� Hermione asked softly. Ron only stared at the two boys with some chagrin. Dudley had grown skyward quite a bit since Ron had last seen him, Harry acknowledged distractedly.

�Um, Hermione? I�d like you to meet my lame-brained cousin, Dudley; the one who�s supposed to be in a safe house as we speak.� Dudley only snorted in amusement before extending his hand to the girl.

�So lovely to meet you, Hermione,� he offered gallantly. �Cor�, Harry, how do you know all these fit birds? Maybe I should go visit your school one day, yeah?� But Ron had draped an arm across Hermione�s shoulder and pulled her just the slightest bit away from the handshake. �Yeah, that�ll do, mate,� he warned gruffly, his eyes narrowing.

�Oh, hey, I know you. You�re the one wot came to my house that day. With those other blokes, the twins,� he recalled with some distrust. He waved a hand behind him. �This here�s me mate, Piers.�

Harry was fast getting impatient, however, realizing that his cousin had no idea of the seriousness of his escape. �Yeah, yeah, that�s all lovely, but you still haven�t told me how you ditched them. You do realize there�s a war on, Duds, and you�re a fucking target because of me. Jesus, you haven�t a clue how much danger you�re in, do you?�

�What�s he on �bout, Dud-Man? I thought your parents were on holiday?� a voice spoke up. Harry glanced to Dudley�s best friend and mentally groaned. He hoped he didn�t have to Obliviate either of them before this was over.

Dudley held up his hands to the group. �Chill, everyone. Cousin, don�t get on my tits about this. I got it under control, �right? Piers, they are on holiday, Harry�s just talkin� in code. You don�t need to know nothin� about it,� he said out of the side of his mouth, his eyes still on Harry and his friends. �Now, I propose we don�t worry about any of that shite, �cos this place is going to fucking blow UP tonight! We got fuckin� Chemical Brothers in the houuuuuusee, boiii-zzzzz,� he sang with a funny accent while his hand flittered in the air. Harry just shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose under his glasses. His cousin was a complete and utter tosspot.

Just then some new music blasted out of the huge speakers on the center stage and the crowd suddenly cheered in exhilaration, a surge of movement taking place as bodies started to run towards the front. The beats were coming furiously, Harry amazed at how fast the rhythm was speeding up. He drew closer to his little group as the bodies ran by him. �Look,� Dudley had to shout to them now as he leaned into their huddle, �I think I know what�s needed here. Told you the Dud-Man�s got it goin� on, little cuz. Take one of these and we�ll be flyin�, yo,� he claimed gregariously as he produced a palm full of little white pills, holding them low while hidden by the boy�s bulk from the passersby.

�Drugs? Are you mad?� Hermione squealed, but the two youths were quick to shush her quiet again. �Don�t fucking broadcast it, yeah? I ain�t giving them away. You don�t need to get luvved up, lass, but you could probably use a bit of it, no offense.� Hermione�s eyes flashed brightly but she directed her scorn to Harry, pulling on his sleeve as she turned him to face her. �Harry, I don�t like this.�

Harry stared at his cousin�s extended hand and wondered what kind of solace those pills held. He didn�t look right to his friend�s face, though, but stared up at the sky as he spoke, shouting but trying to keep his voice to the group. �Hermione, we don�t even know what they�re for. It�s probably not that bad. Aren�t you always curious about new things? This could be like a scientific experiment,� he joked, but when he chanced a casual glance to her face, he only saw disappointment there. He turned his attention back to Dudley. �What do you mean, �luvved up�? What do they do?� he enquired, swooping in to Dudley�s ear as he noticed the pills had smiley faces engraved on them.

�It�s E,� Piers spoke up looking puzzled. �You never heard of that?� he asked suspiciously. Harry and Ron shook their heads while Hermione crossed her arms.

�Ah, man, it�s like falling in love with the whole bloody world, mate. It�s fucking beautiful,� Dudley told them reverently. �It�s PLUR, man,� he added as he popped a tab in his mouth and smiled dreamily. Piers reached out to take one, too, and followed suit.

�Plur?� Ron echoed looking just as suspect. �Sounds rubbish.�

�Peace, love, unity, respect, brother. You�re going to fly your bollocks off. And you�re gonna get laid,� he shout-whispered conspiratorially as he winked towards Hermione. Those all sounded like good reasons to Harry, and he reached for the pill and popped it in his mouth before his friends could object. Dudley grinned, then grabbed a water bottle from Piers� hand and held it out to Harry. Harry took a swig to wash the pill down when he saw Ron reach into Dudley�s still open palm, too. �First thing, we�re going to need to get you blokes some water. Gotta stay hydrated.� He shook his palm towards Hermione with an inviting grin. �Sure you�re not gonna play, luv?�

Then Harry�s mouth hung open again, watching in surprise as his best friend timidly reached out to take one for herself. He followed her hand rise all the way up to her mouth as if in slow-motion, wanting to slap his hand into hers to knock it out of her grasp, to stop its inevitable trajectory. But he didn�t. Because he wanted her to be a part of his escape, wanted to see her as stoned as him and Ron. He knew it was against her better judgment, that she was doing it for him. Always for him, that was his Hermione. Something went tight in his chest and it hurt to breathe for a second, but then Hermione was drinking some water out of the bottle, too, and it was already done, he couldn�t change it now.

�Alrighty, mates, time to get your rave on!� Dudley cheered and then he was pulling Harry along to get to the front of the crowds as the djs that had appeared on the stage started a new song. He let himself get lost in the wall of sound.

I wear my sword at my side a woman sang into a microphone but unseen. He threw an arm to each side of him and wrapped them around Hermione�s and Ron�s shoulders as he followed his cousin. The bodies parted like water as they moved in a pulsing stream, like they were all joined somehow, all unified in their rhythmic writhing and bouncing, their faces ecstatic and eyes closed. The music washed over him and he wanted to disappear in it, wanted all of his heartache flow out of him, wanted to feel some peace for a while. He suddenly thought how much Luna would love this, how joyful she would find it, and promised himself right then that he would bring her to this one day. �Thank you,� he yelled into their ears, and when Hermione looked at him expectantly he kissed her on the cheek. Ron grinned. �It�ll be alright, �Mione, everyone�s having a good time.� Her eyes looked a little off, like the pupils were turning to pinpricks, but she just nodded and took hold of Harry�s hand, pulling them all with her further into the crowd.

A few hours later, Harry felt transformed. He and Hermione were currently bumping and grinding against each other as Ron plastered himself to her backside. Breathe with me!! the singer exhorted the crowd. There were people pressed up all around him, but Harry didn�t care, feeling as exultant as everyone else. Psycho-somatic addict, insane! they all chanted. He felt insane, like he was at the party for the end of the world, and he could only smile at everyone there and show him how much he loved them.

�I love you!� he shouted at his best friends. �What?!� Hermione shouted back at him, grinding into his pelvis a bit harder. �I love you both! You�re the best mates a bloke could ever have!� He dragged his hand over Hermione�s shoulder to pull Ron closer to them, then letting his hand fall down to the boy�s waist so he could hold him tight, attempting to thrust into them both while they danced frantically.

�We love you, too, Harry! That�s why we worry about you so much!� Hermione screamed up close, but her face opening up like the sun coming from behind gray clouds. �This is awesome!!!� she screamed again as the beats switched to another, faster song. The crowd�s swell of approval broke over them again and there was renewed pumping and fist waving. Harry heard a chorus of whistles going off and when he looked around all he could see was swerving neon lights, right inside the masses. People held sticks in their hands that were lit up and he wondered if he should bring out his wand and cast a Lumos. By the time the band on stage left, the three of them were already pouring with sweat, but Harry couldn�t stop moving, he�d never had so much energy in his entire life. Dudley had come up to them a few songs back with more water bottles, but the trio had sucked the liquid down as if it were air. Harry kept licking his teeth, they felt strange, and he wanted to bite something, gnaw on anything that would stop that weird feeling, but he didn�t want to stop moving, didn�t want to stop feeling his friends bodies pressed against him, their sweat dripping on his skin like a benediction, while the breeze cooled his burning head, his heart moving so hard it was like the thunder of horses riding over the plains, and he couldn�t believe he was here, couldn�t believe these people were so jubilant and so giving and so wonderful when there was something so vile and repugnant out there, but they didn�t care, they couldn�t care, because they were all together, we�re all together, Harry marveled, we�re one and we need to triumph over everything that�s bad, we need to love each other, we need to save each other. He reached tightly for his friends again, crushing Hermione between him and Ron as he pulled the boy even nearer. He needed to make them understand this.

�No matter what�s happened, whatever happens, remember that I�ll always be thankful I�ve had you in my life,� he told them.

�We�ll always be together, mate,� Ron leaned in and held them. �I�ll never leave you again, either of you, I bloody promise on my life! Never!� Harry wanted to kiss them both right then, but as he moved to bring his mouth closer, Dudley tapped him on the shoulder.

�We�re getting more water. Need to take a piss while we�re waiting for Chemical to start? You doin� alright, man?� he asked putting a hand to Harry�s shoulder. His pupils were completely dilated and it gave him a wide eyed, slightly mad appearance, his grin wicked, but his concern seemed genuine.

�I think the chemicals have already started, mate!� Harry drawled, but Dudley shook his head at him. �Nah, you git, the Chemical Brothers are up next. It�s going to be brilliant, I saw them at Glasto last year and they blew away the crowd.� Harry had no idea what he was talking about so he simply smiled dazedly and waved. �Nice,� was all he could think to add. Someone whooped next to him and he turned in time to see a girl throw her body at his back, her knees gripping his waist as she grabbed hold of him around the neck. When his head swiveled to get a look at her face, it looked like one of the girls who had commented on his bum, but he could feel she wasn�t wearing a shirt anymore as her naked breasts pressed into him.

�You�re lovely,� she purred into his ear, her lips brushing up against the whorl of flesh. �Wanna shag?� Harry thought her attraction very funny, he hadn�t shaved in days and his hair was past his shoulders, but he gave her a grin as he settled her back down to the ground.

�Thanks, luv, but I�m with me mates. Another time, yeah?� he smiled sweetly. The girl laughed up at him. �Are you rolling?� she inquired, her mouth stretched like the Cheshire cat reminding him of Luna for a moment, but Hermione suddenly took hold of his waist and curved her arm around his back, pulling Harry in another direction as she held Ron�s hand. They went walking around for a spell to soak up more of the crowd�s antics during the intermission, and Ron would point enthusiastically at all the marvelous things they came across like a child taking his first trip to Honeydukes.

Once Dudley and Piers had made their way to them again, the jostling and excitement had gone up a notch and there was a telling expectation in the air as ravers got ready for the arrival of another act. The trio guzzled more water down slavishly, as if they�d been parched in the desert, but when the screams and cheers for the djs� entrance waved over the throng, they eagerly dropped the empty bottles to the ground and ran with the rest of the horde to make their way as close to the stage as they could.

�I�m ready for some speaker-fucking, brother!� Dudley bellowed and soon he was diving into the sea of bodies, his giant frame dwarfing so many dancers in his path.

Back with another one of those block rockin� beats! came the cry off the stage and the crowd proceeded to go wild in their enthusiasm. Girls were taking their tops off with abandon while sitting astride their boyfriends� shoulders and Harry just grinned at them all. Ron couldn�t seem to take his eyes off of one young woman with long, wavy brown hair and quite a large rack jiggling away, but Hermione smacked at his face. He startled and looked at her guiltily, but she only laughed and leaned in to kiss him on the mouth. Harry came up right next to them and pressed his lips to the sides of their snog wanting to be part of their embrace. Ron pulled back for a second, but then Hermione pulled them all together in a mash up once more and dragged Ron�s head back to her and Harry�s mouths. Harry closed his eyes and let the air make his skin feel like it was moving, the vibrations thrumming all through him as he licked at each of his friends tongues greedily. He wanted to bury his body right inside of them, right down their throats, and he clutched their shoulders awkwardly in their varying heights as he did his best to accomplish the transference. He let his hand creep through Ron�s hair, grabbing tightly to the boy�s ginger locks as he turned their faces towards each other full on, his lips insistent as he pressed to his mate�s mouth. He loved Ron, he told himself, he could never have a better best friend, and kissing him was just a way to show him that. Ron opened up to him and put an encouraging hand behind his head, but then Hermione was waiting to join in, too. Harry slid his mouth from Ron�s to Hermione�s in one smooth motion, not caring that he was doing it in front of Ron, not worried that they might give something away, that Ron might detect their betrayal in the kiss. They were better together, all three of them, like one invincible unit.

�We�re a team,� he declared, licking his lips as he moved his head back from them. The three of them grinned madly at each other, Ron laughing in a deep baritone while Hermione nodded her head vigorously. Ron�s face turned to alarm just then as he gawked at the stage. �Blimey, Harry, what the bloody hell�?� They all turned to see what he was staring at and noticed a giant eyeball over the stage, the iris rolling around inside the whites looming behind the djs. He suddenly realized that the screens had been showing moving pictures the whole time. �Surreal,� he drawled again.

They stayed dancing together through the whole set, however, sometimes others joining in their frolicking by pressing up against their little circle. Harry was whisked away at one point by two other girls and a tall, pretty boy, but his friends took him back as soon as the song they had danced to was over. His thoughts went to Luna again and he wished that he could take the good feelings buoying up in his chest right at that moment and send them out to her, on a breeze or a Hippogryff, a visible stream of love and beauty and longing for her. If he could manifest it into his hands, he knew it would sparkle brilliantly, like her eyes, and he could shoot it to her like a star, piercing her wherever she was so that she could be filled up, too, and she would be a figure of bright light, so that the Dementors would cower before her. He held fast to Hermione and Ron and shut his eyes tightly, willing with all of his heart to make the light appear. When he opened them, his head tilted all the way back so he could stare right up into the sky, the beauty he saw before him was overwhelming. He saw one of the stars twinkle and knew it was her, knew it was his angel saying hello to him. Harry wanted to cry in that moment. She was all right, he felt it inexplicably and assuredly, as if the news had been branded to his chest. He would be able to get to her and she would be okay.

�She�s going to be all right!� he screamed to his friends, his face breaking into the joy he felt in his heart. His friends wrapped him close into their huddle again, their hands feeling like the softest velvet as they caressed him.

Harry felt that schism, a physical release in his chest, feeling inundated with so much love at that very instant. The cancer in him fled in the face of it, the light beating back his darkness like wings in flight. He felt reborn and it suddenly occurred to him that they were on a mission, he had something important to carry out.

Harry looked into the warm faces of his friends once more. With so much love given to him by so many people, how could he not triumph?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~0

When Ron awoke in the morning, he peered through one eye groggily as he wondered why his bed was so incredibly lumpy. He felt completely parched and exhausted, like he hadn�t slept for a hundred years. When the sunlight greeted him in his peek, he quickly shut both eyelids tightly again. What the sodding..? Why was there so much bleeding light in the tent? And why did it feel like there was a heavy weight on his chest, like a set of barbells? But then a warble right above him startled him into jumping upwards, and when he looked around he realized he was outside. There was a grunt beside him and then someone slid off of him and hit the ground with a thud.

�Ron,� Hermione whined, �Thanks a lot.� She lay back on a bright yellow sleeping bag that he�d never seen before, her shirt twisted around her middle while her jeans hung low on her waist, a plaid blanket in red and greens strewn across her legs.

�Where are we, what�s going on?� he uttered blearily, feeling quite out of sorts. He licked his lips several times and coughed, his voice sounded awfully scratchy, he noticed.

�Ah, you lot getting up now?� came a voice to his left and when he glanced over he saw Harry�s cousin walking towards them, his gangly friend traipsing behind in a shuffling gait. There seemed to be bodies strewn all over the field like a massacre had happened overnight, but then he saw the tents populating the morning landscape. He heard a groan underneath him and jolted when the lump he�d been laying on moved. Harry scrubbed his face as his head popped out of another sleeping bag and glanced around, somewhat in a daze. His glasses weren�t on his face and Ron hoped they hadn�t been lost. A sudden vision of him making out with his friend last night flashed in his brain and he could feel his face get hot. He swung his head back to Hermione, who was sitting up on her haunches now fixing her clothes, and he recalled that he�d been getting off with her, too, a lovely remembrance of his hand under her bra visiting him fleetingly. It was all very confusing. Then more images pervaded his thoughts, lights and masses of bodies swaying to music in amongst the recollections of the things he�d been doing with his friends. Harry�s cousin had given them something, a type of potion in pill form, and it had made him feel most happy.

The stocky teen sat down next to them and held out some water bottles in his fingers. Ron didn�t take the time to thank him before he was snatching one quickly, already unscrewing the cap in one motion, his mouth so dry it felt arid and hot. The cooling liquid was like a silky coating down his throat and he moaned as he guzzled it down.

�Thank you so much for taking care of us last night, Dudley. How much do we owe you for all of that water? I can�t believe the exorbitant prices they were asking.� Hermione stretched towards the boy as she held out a hand to take another of the bottles.

�Nah, no worries, luv. It�s not like I don�t owe Harry a few favors, anyway. It�s on me.� Ron eyed him suspiciously for a moment, but the boy seemed sincere and not like he was trying to hit on her.

�So, how are you all mates, then?� the other boy suddenly spoke up. He had a rather large nose and there was a bit of an overbite evident, but he seemed pleasant enough to Ron. Harry stared fixedly at him, but Ron figured he could barely see the bloke and was only trying to bring him into focus. The lad narrowed his gaze at the three of them and wagged his finger back and forth between each of the trio. �Who�s shagging whom, here? I couldn�t really tell over the course of the night. You all seem pretty touchy-feely.�

�Wasn�t that a side-effect of the B, though?� Ron suggested defensively, scratching at his arms.

�E, Ron,� corrected an amused Hermione. Ron glanced back at her and she smiled wickedly as she put the bottle back to her lips. He stared at them for a second before Harry got his attention.

�We�re all friends at school, Piers. They�re my best mates, actually.� Piers looked over to his buddy doubtfully. �I don�t get it, why does your cousin have all these birds at St. Brutus�? She doesn�t look like a miscreant.�

Dudley gave a wry smile to Harry before answering. �Harry doesn�t go to a reform school, Piers, that�s just some bollocks my dad made up. He actually goes to a really posh prep school that�s been paid for through his inheritance. Dad doesn�t like the fact that Harry�s father was more well off than we are.� Ron was a bit surprised at the turn-around in Harry�s cousin, even though he�d already been alerted. He seemed like a good bloke and it was nice to hear him give Harry some credit.

�I thought you said his dad was a drunk,� whispered Piers, eyeballing Harry nervously again.

�Fuck off, mate,� Harry suggested dryly. Dudley held up a hand in a show of peace and made apologies for the misinformation.

�Nah, they got hit by a drunk driver, I told you later. Dad says a lot of bullshit when he�s had too much to drink at dinner. I was only repeating what I�d heard as a kid.�

Ron chanced a glance behind him to see what Hermione was up to and smirked to see her back at him while trying to pull something out of her purse discreetly. Her hand slipped way past the mouth for a second before she pulled it up quickly and turned with something clasped in her hand. �Here,� she held it out to him, �give these to Harry.� Ron passed the black framed glasses to the boy on his other side and Harry grabbed them with a word of thanks, slipping them on and blinking myopically at the group. He suddenly gave a loud burp and put a hand up to his mouth. �Sorry,� he mumbled. �God, my breath must be rank,� he groaned to no one in particular.

�Yeah, let�s find some place to freshen up and get another map. We need to get going soon, Harry,� Hermione reminded them. She looked over to Dudley. �What time is it, anyway?�

�It�s going on two thirty, about,� he informed them and all three sat up straight in various modes of squawking. �I can�t believe it�s so late!� Hermione cried, but Ron reasoned that they were pretty out of it by the time they�d all fallen asleep. He was glad for the rest.

�It�s not like we�ve got any appointments to keep, �Mione,� he balked. �We�re perfectly on schedule.� They had no idea where to go next, really, but she had convinced them to make their way into London one more time to scope out another library for more information. Her idea involved looking in one of those caputer thingies and supposedly they kept some in the British Library.

�Yes, but Ron,� she started in a nagging tone, but Harry cut her off.

�Never mind all that; how are you getting back, Dudders? I can�t leave you two until I know you�re going to be safe. We�re kind of in a bad position; I shouldn�t be contacting any of the people you were staying with.�

�I told you, I�ve got it taken care of.� He held up a small shiny object that Ron didn�t recognize. �Hullo? Already called me dad and your friends�ll be picking me up in the nearest station. I�m just seeing off Piers on the tracks before I�ll be heading back. Blimey, I�m not stupid, Harry.�

Harry seemed to calm down at the news and then looked around at their surroundings again. He looked at Ron and gave him a big, warm smile. �Fancy a bite to eat, mate?�

Ron could only smile indulgently to his friend. It was good to hear Harry had an appetite, that perhaps the drug they had taken had been just what he needed, like some sort of warp-speed Felix Felicis. There was something new in his friend�s face, something he hadn�t seen in way too long. It took a while to recognize what it was but then it him like the feel of the sun warming a chill out of his body, starting in his center and working its way through him.

He saw hope in Harry�s shining, green eyes.

I hope you enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed writing it. I will add as a caveat that I do not condone drinking yourself into oblivion to solve all of your problems, nor taking drugs (although I'm not playing hypocrite, here), but it was what I felt Harry would fall into in his state of depression. Thanks for your continued reviews, especially those who have stuck by me.

Sneakyfox! I thought I'd lost you! So glad to hear you're still reading!

Pete and Soft, thank you so much for your thoughts. Dark Dragen, so glad you are enjoying my story. Scary, I can hardly wait til you catch up, too! I'm so glad I didn't scare you off with the last installment, lol. I'm well on my way to the next chapter, and I feel as rejuvenated as the trio, so here's to marching on to the end!

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